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orcelain and maps, books, clocks and clothes, Mao posters and gramophones: objects unper-turbedly travel the world, change hands (through theft, as diplomatic gifts, or in trade) as well as their cultural meaning in different contexts and times, and create unexpected connections. In recent years, the study of objects as an alternative to written documentation has gathered momentum and created the interdisciplinary field of material culture in the broadest sense: the disciplines of anthropology, art history, and archeology investigate objects as part of social practice. In the field of global history, the study of objects (artefacts as well as things of daily use) provides us with a visualization of trade routes and flows of goods. Often, these objects, in travelling, change their cultural meanings and attributes, and appear in the setting of the destination with a new meaning; objects, too, have social lives, as Arjun Appadurai reminds us.
In this class, we will study the diverse theories on material culture in China and Europe. We will also investigate the making of certain things in China during the Ming and Qing, destined for every-day life in China, but also for the trade with Europe (books, silk, porcelain, art, tea, opium, furs), and reconstruct their journey (as commodities, gifts, or looted goods) from Chi-na to Europe or other parts of the world. The three last sessions will be dealing with objects and goods of exchange between China and Europe during the 20th century, the era of the Re-public and the years under Mao. We will read Chinese and English language materials, will watch films and visit museums.
Requirements for this class are regular participation, preparation of the class by reading the assigned texts as well as short powerpoint presentations of the required readings and addi-tional texts. For credit, a term paper is expected of about 5000 words, the topic should be dis-cussed between instructor and student. Readings and course materials will be made accessible via the Moodle platform.
The module is intended primarily for students enrolled in the MA programme in Chinese Studies (MA Sinologie), but it is also open to other interested students. For MA students of other disciplines and doctoral students: In consultation with the instructor, parts of this mod-ule can be replaced through other, equivalent accomplishments.